diff --git a/tests/e2e/catalog.yml b/tests/e2e/catalog.yml
index c62c335..c7951aa 100644
--- a/tests/e2e/catalog.yml
+++ b/tests/e2e/catalog.yml
@@ -289,6 +289,7 @@ packages:
     category: toolchain
     dist: ubuntu
     tags: [c, autotools]
+    xfail: FTBFS with texinfo 7.3 - texi2dvi aborts with 'pdfetex exited with bad status' building gdb.pdf - the last Launchpad rebuild predates the texinfo upgrade, distro toolchain change
 
   - name: cmake
     category: toolchain
@@ -312,12 +313,14 @@ packages:
     category: boot-firmware
     tags: [c, autotools, bootloader, weird]
     notes: multi-platform grub; heavy but dependable
+    xfail: sid carries the 2.06-2 branch whose control pins gcc-10, no longer in sid - the build-deps of the no-change rebuild are unsatisfiable, package-side
 
   - name: u-boot
     category: boot-firmware
     dist: ubuntu
     arch: arm64
     cross: true
+    xfail: in cross builds dpkg-buildflags serves the arm64 target CFLAGS and u-boot compiles its kbuild host tools with them - cc rejects -mbranch-protection=none on amd64 - upstream cross-host-tool breakage, same under sbuild cross
     tags: [c, kconfig, firmware, weird, cross]
     notes: cross build for arm64; many board configs